Former Dell Executive Bruce Dietzen Built a Working Sports Car Out of 100 Pounds of Cannabis

Most of us are well aware of the legal repercussions and safety issues that could come from driving with pot inside of your vehicle or bloodstream, but what about cruising around in a ride that’s literally made out of cannabis? Former Dell executive Bruce Dietzen has made this stoner’s dream into a reality with the 2017 Renew, a custom sports car with a body that’s made up almost entirely out of 100 pounds marijuana.

Last week, the tech entrepreneur debuted his eco-friendly whip on Jay Leno’s Garage, a television show hosted by the former late night legend and automotive enthusiast. According to Dietzen, the tightly woven marijuana leaves make the Renew’s body ten times stronger than steel. To prove the strength of his pot-laden vehicle, he and Leno both pound away at the hood of the car, inflicting no damage whatsoever.

During the episode, Dietzen also revealed that the manufacturing process was completely “carbon neutral,” or as environmentally sustainable as humanly possible. Although there’s no denying the atmospheric cleanliness of this “green machine”, it did cost a pretty penny to build. The former Dell executive has invested around $200,000 for the massive amount of hemp material and the unique production process needed to mold it.

While this personal project might seem like a revolutionary feat, it’s far from the first time that cannabis has been used to manufacture a car. Back in 1941, Henry Ford was experimenting with the idea of using the plant to build his own vehicles. By using hardened hemp resin, Dietzen took this past effort and enhanced it with modern production methods currently used in the automotive industry.

And while it might seem like the cannabis car is nothing more than a Silicon Valley novelty project, Dietzen himself is fully invested in reducing the negative impact that the automotive industry has on the environment. In addition to building the 2017 Renew, he’s also invested in the Colorado company Cool Tech, a business working to develop an alternative source of fuel. All in all, Leno had some fun cracking jokes and looking at this cannabis-based car in awe. You can check out a preview of the episode below.